USA > Ohio > Putnam County > A Portrait and biographical record of Allen and Putnam counties, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of many prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States, and biographies of the governors of Ohio, pt 2 > Part 1
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65
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Gc 977.101 A&5p pt.2
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REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
GEN
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 02399 1919
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016
https://archive.org/details/portraitbiograph02unse_1
A PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL
RECORD
ALLEN AND PUTNAM
COUNTIES; OHIO,
Pt. 2
CONTAINING BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF MANY
Prominent and Representative Citizens,
LEF THER WITH BIOGRAFIMIS AND PAKIRMIS OF ALL THE
PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES,
AND IOGRAPHIES OF TH
GOVERNORS OF OHIO.
1
4/7.101
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CHICAGO: A. W. BOWEN & CO. 180G.
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'ALLEN COUNTY TTELIC LIBRARY, EORI WAYNE, INDIANA .
'ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY FORT WAYNE, INDIANA
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
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OUIS BOEHMER, second son of Henry J. and Mary (Wellman) Boeh- mer, was born in Fort Jennings Angust 25, 1841, and attended the public school until thirteen years of age, de- voting three months of each year to study therein, after which his education was entirely self acquired. He worked, when Sinall, on the farm of his grandfather Wellman, and when between fifteen and sixteen went into his father's mill -- the first grist-mill of Fort Jennings, built about 1847. The first dam across the Anglaize river at this point was built of logs by Henry Joseph Bochmer in 1850, and a saw-mill attached. In 1866 the grist-mill was built, and remodeled in 1886 with a complete roller system, but was de- stroyed by fire about 1887. In February, 1587, Mr. Bochmer rebuilt the saw mill, put in new machinery, and is now turning ont about 8, ooo feet of lumber per day.
The marriage of Louis Boehmer was sol- einized at Fort Jennings July 20, 1865, with Miss Anna Kleekamp, who was born May 2, 1840, a daughter of Frank H. and Catherine (Kolker) Kleckamp. Mr. Kleekamp came from Hanover, Germany, about 1847, and two years later brought over his family. He first worked in the mill, saved his earnings, and later ran a tavern, and next engaged in the dry-goods business, which he carried on until his death, at the age of seventy-seven years. He was a member of the Catholic church, and reared a most respected family of ten children. Mr. and Mrs. Boehmer have had born to them five children, all of whom have been reared to maturity, viz: Anna, Ehzabeth, George H., Marie A. and Albert I .. The parents are Catholics, have reared their family in the same faith, and they now stand among the foremost of the most respec- table society of Fort Jennings and the county of Putnam. In politics Mr. Boehner is a!
democrat and has been a member of the school- board for twenty-seven years. a member of the common council of Fort Jennings seven years, and a justice of the peace for four years. He is one of the most enterprising citizens of the county and is the proprietor of three saw- mills-one at Fort Jennings, one at Middle- point and one at Stanley. As is evident, Mr. Boehmer is in a prosperous condition, and this prosperity is due to hi- natural busines . qual- ifications to a great extent, an ' also largely to his persistent industry. His business integrity is universally acknowledged, and his promises are as freely relied on, when once geen, as any document backed by all the collateral in existence.
PILLIAM BOEHMER, ex-county commissionei, of Patnam coty, Ohio, was born in Fort Jennings, August 15. 1846, in Ins father's old Indian trading post, which is still standing. His father, Henry Joseph Bochmer, as will readily be seen by a preceding sketch, v one of the early pioneers of the township. Will- iam, our subject, was reared a farme and miller, and from the tune he was large enough to first handle a sack of grain ran the some mill, in conjunction with his brother Louis, until 1870, when he married, at Fort Jerrings, Miss Elizabeth Odenwaller, a rative of Oden- wald, Hesse-Darmstadt. Germany. : onis Odenwaller, father of Mrs. Buhner, was a well-educated gentleman and a school-te her. His wife was a daughter of Peter Karst, and there were born to them seven children viz: Elizabeth, Lewis, John Henry Matilda, Ber- nardina and Bernard, all born mt Ohio with the exception of Elizabeth, who is a native of Ger- many, born in 1847 in Her father's native vil- lage. In 1847 Mr. Olenwaller came to mer- ica and located at Findlay, Omno ran a grocery
JOSEPH N .: BOXWELL.
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OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
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store, and then went to Pendleton, Ohio, and for a time kept a grocery in connection with a tavern. In 1853 he came to Fort Jennings and taught school here and in the surrounding country for at least twenty years, and then kept a grocery store until his death, in the faith of the Roman Catholic church.
After marriage Mr. Boehmer settled in Fort Jennings, and worked in the mill until 1883, when he was elected county conmissioner by the democratic party, and so satisfactorily did he perform his duties that at the expiration of his term: he was re-elected by a good round majority. In March, 1894, Mr. Boehmer moved to his present farm, winch was formerly a part of his father's estate. He has erected a beautiful residence on his place, and he owns, beside, a residence property in town. He has recently been elected a trustee of Jennings township, has been mayor of Fort Jennings several years, has served as justice of the peace three years, and is now serving as one of the jury commissioners. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Boehmer have been born seven chil- dren, named as follows: Amelia, Matilda, Frederick, Gertrude, Otto, Bernardina and Louis. Of these Matilda is married to Charles Rimlinger, a farmer of Fort Jennings, who is descended from good old German-French par- ents, who settled in Putnam county, and has been intrusted with the administration of all the offices within the gift of the people of his township.
J OSEPH N. BOXWELL, of Cascade, Perry township, Putnam county, Ohio, is a retired farmer and merchant, is among the best known and highly es- tremed citizens, and is the son of Moses and and Catlime (Fogwell) Boxwell. Moses Boswell was born in Alleghany county, Md , October & 1802, his parents having come to
America prior to the Revolutionary war. He was one of a family of nine children and was married, about the year of 1825. to Catherine Fogwell, who was born in Washington county, Md., March 4, 1805, and to their union were born the following-named children: Daniel A. and John W., deceased in infancy; Mrs. Sarah A. Keifer, deceased, William F., interested in the gold mines of Idaho; Joseph N., of this mention; Catherine and George P., deceased. After his marriage Moses Boswell located in Alleghany county, Md., where his time was divided between farming, shoemaking and car- pentering. He became a vers wealthy man and his wife's people were also a family of ample means. He died February 20, 1843 .. truly lamented by all who knew him. Many public favors and distinctions in the way of offices had been bestowed upon him and he had been a life-long supporter of the whig party, to which he gave loyal allegiance; he was a member of the Wese van Methodist Episcopal church and a christim gentleman in his daily life and dealing. ils wife ched in 1844, a member of the Lutheran church
Joseph N. was reared on a farm, and at the early age of eleven years began life for himself, earning his own living, when sixteen years of age he learned the miller's trade, which business he followed for eight years. He attended school some seven months and gave such other time to study as was possible. In the year of 1848 he came to Putnam county, and on August 30, 1855, was 1 pried to Ade- line Meyers, who was born August 30, 1836, a daughter of Samuel and Mantaret Meyers. and became the mother of ume children: Jacob Charles, deceased; Ampy Milla, dial in infancy; Maggie Edith, wife of Prof. F. Logan; Abraham M., of the Cherokee strip; Joseph S., a mercantile traveler of fo p &c; Eva MI .. deceased wife of F. Hart; Withe, deceased in infancy, and Albert E. at the a . of five and
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
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John Edward, at home. Mr. and Mrs. Box- well began life in pure pioneer fashion, set- tling immediately after their marriage on their present place, which was then an unbroken and uncleared wilderness. Mr. Boxwell's time, from 1879 to March, 1883, was occupied on his farm and in following the milling trade, at which time he came to Cascade, where he now lives. An important and honorable event in the history of our subject was his enlistment, April 4, 1862, in the Union army, in company C, Eighty-seventh Ohio volunteer infantry. Under this enlistment he served four months at Harper's Ferry, and re-enlisted in February, 1863, in company B, Second Ohio heavy artil- lery, in which he gallantly served until the close of the war, receiving his discharge June 20, 1865. He was at Franklin and Nashville and through to Atlanta, and experienced the many hardships of camp and soldier's life, losing his eyesight by exposure. After the war he began improving his place, making such headway as lack of seeing would permit, his sight in 1866 being gone.
In 1877 Mrs. Boxwell died. She was a woman of true and practical piety and a com- municant of the Christian church. April 16, 1880, Mr. Boxwell was married to Mrs. Eliza- beth Staffer, née Shank. Mrs. Elizabeth Box- well was born in Putnam county January 5, 1837, and educated in the schools of Greens- burg township. She is the daughter of Jonas and Veronica (Meyers) Shank, both natives of Maryland and early settlers of Ohio. She is a member of the Mennonnite church, and her husband a member of the Christian church. Politically, Mr. Boxwell is a republican and has often held the office of township clerk, trustee, and justice of the peace. He is a member of the G. A. R., Wisor post, and one of his great enjoyments is the meeting of the boys in blue-the okl comrades of by-gone soldier days. It gives one pleasure to write
of men whose character admits of so many kind acts and deeds as our subject. Three girls and a number of boys have been brought up and aided by him, and his life is rich in kind and generous actions.
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J OHN A. BOGGS, one of the young and successful farmers of Monroe town- ship, Putnam county, Ohio, was born in Miami county, October 30, 1858. His grandfather was Ezekiel Boggs, whose son John was born in Hamilton county, Ohio, June 24, 1809, was of German desce . and was reared a farmer. From Hamilton county John moved to Miann county, where 1. built a water-power grist and saw-mill, and was there married to Miss Julia A. Snodgrass, who was born July 16, 1816, a daughter of William and Margaret (Newcomb) Snodgrass.
John Boggs, son of Ezekiel and father of our subject, was one of the pioneers of Mon- roe township, Putnam county, coming here when the country was a vast forest, filled with swamps and frog-ponds and infested with wild animals; scarcely any roads had been laid out, very little clearing had been done, no ditching nor draining had been undertaken, and cabins of settlers were few and far between But among the wild animals that roamed the for- est were deer, and occasionally a bear or two, that helped to replenish the too-often depleted larder of the pioneer, and served to relieve the sameness or lack of variety on the daily table. Here Mr. Boggs succeeded in cleari ; up a farm of great fertility and with the exercise of the almost unceasing toil necessary at that day made for himself and family a home winch at present has few equ d- for comfort and profit in Putnam county, u. 1 of this comfort he now fully avails himself, bring in case and enjoying the respect of a large circle of fricats and
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neighbors that the country, when he first settled in it, knew not of. William Snod- . grass, father of Mrs. Julia A. Boggs, came to Monroe township, Putnam county, in 1860, and here worked as a carpenter a number of years; later he cleared up a farm of ninety- seven acres and made a home unequaled, or, at least, unexcelled, in all the conveniences of modern civilization. Here he lost his wife December 12, 1887; she being, as he, a mem- ber of the Christian church. He still lives on the old farm, a highly respected gentleman and a well-known member of the republican party, the principles of which he ardently sus- tains at the polls.
John A. Boggs, the respected subject of this biographical mention, was but an infant when brought to Monroe township, Putnam county. He received his early education in the old-fashioned frontier log school-house, which, though lowly, very often gave forth pupils who in after life became prominent in every department of life-in statesmanship, in the legal profession, in medicine, in the profession of arms-and who had their names inscribed on the tablets in the temple of Fame. Our subject, however, was content with the instruction necessary for the prosperous prose- cution of the everyday affairs of the rural life to which he was reared, for his life has always been that of a farmer. Reaching his majority. Mr. Boggs was first united in the bonds of matrimony, May, 3, 1879, with Miss Emeline Spencer, who was born October 30, 1862, a daughter of Nathan and Rebecca (Hobbs) Spencer, and to this union were born two children-Rosetta and Ehna L. The death of the mother of these children took place January 15. 1882, and the second marriage of Mr. Boggs was solemnized on the 11th day of October, 1886, with Miss Catharine ?. Spencer, who was born August 4, 1869, a daughter of Nathan B. and Rebecca Spencer.
To this happy union have been born the fol- lowing children: Edna, Franklin, Mary, Flor- ence and Elsie Viola, who still live to bless the home of their parents.
Mr. Boggs has a finely cultivated farm of ninety-seven acres, the greater part of which he assisted in clearing up. He has improved it with every modern convenience and has a neat, substantial dwelling, that is an ornament to the neighborhood. His fields show every evidence of the care of a skillful agriculturist, and he has the reputation of being the best farmer of his age in the township. In politics Mr. Boggs is a republican, and has held sev- eral township offices. With his wife he is a member of the Christian church, and also of Enterprise grange, No. 777, P. of H Mr. Boggs, who has climbed the ladder of success from the bottom rung to the utmost towering height, well deserves the esteem in which he is held by his neighbors and fellow-citizens. Although yet a young man, he has, through an intelligent exercise of the superior qualities with which he has been endowed by nature, attained an assured position that, although it does not justify a defiance of the powers of fate, yet gives every evidence of a prolonged and happy future.
R EV. CHARLES BRASCHLER, of Fort Jennings, Putnam county, Ohio, was born in Switzerland, November 2, 1843, a son of Jacob and Eliza- beth (Baechtiger) Braschler, and is the only survivor of a family of eleven children. At the age of eleven or twelve years he was placed at work in a large cotton mill, where he was employed for about four years, acquir- ing, in the meantime, an excellent common- school education; he subsequently attended a normal school for a year, studied Latin, and
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
otherwise prepared himself for college, and at the age of seventeen was admitted to the Mary Einsdeln order of Saint Benedict, and graduated four years later; he then attended the college at Freeburg one year, and the next two years studied philosophy and physics in Monza, Italy; in 1867 he came to America and studied theology at Saint Mary's semi- nary, at Cleveland, Ohio, for three years; July 17, 1870, he was ordained priest at Cleveland, by Bishop Mullen, of Erie, Pa., in the absence of the presiding bishop.
Father Braschler began his pastoral labors at Edgerton, Ohio, where for three years he had charge of six missions, extending over three counties; in 1873, he was called to Upper Sandusky, Ohio, where he had charge of Saint Peter's congregation, and was very successful in his ministry for nearly sixteen years. In the fall of 1888 he came to Fort Jennings, where he has since faithfully exer- cised the functions of his holy office. Father Braschler is a gentleman of refined spirituality as well as thorough scholarship, and a linguist of exceptional attainments. He is by nature a musician, and rigid training and discipline have made him an expert in the art. As a performer on the organ he has few equals, and several other musical instruments yield readily to his manipulation, while his voice is ever a welcome and agreeable accompaniment to either choir or mass. His eloquence is of the most exalted character, his logic indisput- able and convincing, his manner suave and pleasing, and his piety is made manifest in his every act. His early habits of study have had much to do in the formation of his character. but nature endowed him with powers of eu- ergy and indefatigability. His work for the church and his present parishioners can never be fully appreciated by the latter July 17, 1895, the reverend father celebrated the twenty-fifth anniversary of his ordination to
the priesthood, receiving the fervent congratu- lations of his flock and many complimentary letters from abroad.
ENRY THOMPSON BRECKBILL, M. D., one of the leading physicians of Columbus Grove, Ohio, is a na- tive of Pennsylvania, having been born in Lebanon county, that state, on July 20, 1845. He is the son of Jonas and Pru- dence (Fletcher) Breckbill, the father having been born in Pennsylvania in the yen 1812, and the mother in London, England, the same year. Dr. Breckbill's grandfather was John Breckbill, who was born in Philadelphia, and was the son of one of three brothers who came to America from Switzerland prior to the Rev- olutionary war, in which struggle one of them was a colonel. When these brothers came across the sea the name was Brightbill, but the branch of the family from which the doc- tor springs changed it to Breckbill. The ma- ternal grandfather was John Fletch :, who came to America during the last century as a surveyor, being the first surveyor to c ne to his part of the country. He followed this calling for many years, and then became super vitend- ent of the Coahnan iron works at Lancaster, Pa., at which vocation he continued the bal- ance of his life. Five years after he came across his family jomed him. The parents of Dr. Breckbill were married in Lancaster, Pa., in 1833, and remained in Lebanon county un- til 1851, and then came to Richland county, Ohio, they crossing the Alleghany mountains when the cars were drawn over by horses. They settled on a farm in Richland comty, Ohio, twelve miles northeast from Manstick. They remained ou the tarm for about six years, and then, selling out, removed to Shells , Ohio, where the father engaged in the hardware business. In 1870 they came with Dr Brock-
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bill to Columbus Grove, the father dying here September 17, 1882, the mother surviving him , and dying on November 18, 1886. The father was reared a member of the German Re- formed church, and the mother of the Episco- pal church of England. After their marriage they became members of the United Brethren church. They were the parents of five sons and three daughters, all of whom grew to man- hood and womanhood but one, the fifth son, who died at the age of two years. Another son died at the age of forty years, in 1883.
Dr. Breckbill was six years of age when he came with his parents to Ohio. He was reared on the farm and in the town of Shelby, passing through the high school of that place. At fifteen years of age he taught his first school, and continued in the same vocation three years. He then entered a dry-goods store in Shelby, and there resided from 1862 to 1877. During that period he read medicine and recited at night for seven years. In 1877 he entered the office of Dr. A. M. Ballard, and read that sum- mer, and in September of that year went to Cincinnati and entered Pulte Medical college, remaining there until March, 1878, when he graduated. Returning to Shelby he entered into partnership with Dr. A. M. Ballard, his preceptor, and remained one year. In 1879 he came to Columbus Grove on a visit, and while here was influenced by friends to lo- cate permanently. Again returning to Shelby county he sold out to his partner, and on April 26, 1879. he removed here and immediately engaged in the practice of his profession, and has since continmed. He is a member of the State Homeopathic Medical society and of the World Homeopathy society; is a member of the Rufns Putnam lodge, of Columbus Grove, and of Ottawa chapter, and the Sir Knights of Lima, and also of the Methodist Episcopal church. Dr. Breckbill was married December 27. 1882, to Zoe K. Maple, youngest daughter
of Simon and Kate Maple, and they are the parents of two children-Bonnie, born March 8, 1890, and Catherine Prudence, born De- cember 1, 1894, and died March 14, 1895. The doctor is also extensively engaged in farm- ing, operating 320 acres of land.
RANK G. BRINKMAN, one of the substantial farmers of Jennings town- ship, Putnam county, Ohio, is a son of one of the pioneers of the town- ship, and is of sturdy German stock. Leopold Brinkman, grandfather of our subject, was a native of Westphalia, Prussia, was a farmer, and married Elizabeth Pitzes, the union result- ing in the birth of five children: Herman, Bernard, Henry, Frank and Annie. Leopold Brinkman lived until the advanced age of eighty-seven years, and died on his farm in Prussia, in the faith of the Catholic church.
Frank H. Brinkman, the father of Frank G., our subject, was born on his father's farm, in Westphalia, December 10, 1820, and canie to America in 1848 or 1849, in the sailing ves- sel Antoinette, from Bremen, making the voy- age in fifty-six days, and landing in New York. He located first in Cincinnati. and married, June 10, 1851, Elizabeth Winkleman, who was born October 18, 1825, in Westphalia, a daughter of Bernard and Annie M. (Arens) Winkleman. Bernard Winkleman was also a native of Westphalia, and was a farmer, and served his time in the Prussian army. To his marriage were born three children-Therese, Matthias and Elizabeth. He came to the United States in the fall of 18.45, sailing from Bremen and bound for New Orleans, but his vessel, the Burgundy, stranded in the English chanrel two and a half days later, and the passengers were taken to London and thence forwarded to New Orleans, but in the voyage the vessel was ravaged by fever and cholera,
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
and the mother and a brother, Theodore, died of the latter disorder. Bernard Winkleman and a danghter reached St. Louis, and there he also died of cholera in the fall of 1846. Mrs. Brinkman and her brother, Matthias, then proceeded to Cincinnati, where she worked as a domestic until her marriage to our subject.
After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Brinkman re- sided in Cincinnati until 1856, and then moved to Delphos. He had already purchased the eighty acres of land on which he now lives in 1853, and settled thereon in 1857. It was all woods and swamp, but he erected a log cabin and cleared away little by little of his farm as he could spare time from his day's work at Ottoville and Delphos. By hard work, how- ever, he succeeded in wresting a first-class farm from the wilderness, and in rearing five children, viz: Matthias, Elizabeth, Erhard, Annie and Frank G. The eldest was born in Cincinnati and she remainder on the farm in the order named.
Mr. and Mrs. Brinkman and family were all ardent members of the Catholic church. He manifested his devotion to his faith by con- tributing $300 in cash and $roo in labor-a total of $400-to the erection of the magnifi- cent Catholic house of worship in Ottoville, and in that faith he died on his farm at the age of seventy years, nine months and nine days, having been in politics a democrat. Frank G. Brinkman was born September 14, 1866, and received a good cominon-school education. He has always been a farmer, and is one of most enterprising in his township. Matthias Winkleman, brother of Mrs. Brinkman and father of Max Winkleman, whose biography will be found on another page, was born in Westphalia, Prussia, March 2, 1827, and came to America when a young man, three years be- fore his father-probably about 1842-and landed at New Orleans, say at the age of six- teen years, and, coming north, learned the
tinner's trade at Xenia, Ohio. He removed to Delphos early in 1852 or 1853, and entered the farm on which Frank G. Brinkman now lives, Mr. Winkleman purchasing it in 1853. Matthias Winkleman then moved to Delphos, and there married Frances Michel.
EORGE BUCHANAN, deceased, was a successful and respected farmer of Greensburg township, Putnam county, Ohio, and was born. in 1832, in Co- shocton county, Ohio, a son of John and Eliz- abeth (Ayers) Buchanan. His father, Jolin, was a native of Ireland who came to America in his youth, settled among the pioneers of Co- shocton county, and there married Mis. Ayers, who became the mother of two children -- John, who died in 1868, and George, the subject of this sketch.
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